First Minister Michelle O'Neill has rejected calls from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to resign over her involvement in protests against an Orange Order parade in Portadown. Unionist politicians criticized O'Neill, branding her the "first minister of lawlessness" due to her support for demonstrations that blocked an Orange Order march on Garvaghy Road.
During an appearance in the Stormont assembly, O'Neill stated her pride in standing with the residents of Garvaghy Road and affirmed her continued support for them. She characterized the planned September 27th march as "unwanted, sectarian and triumphalist." O'Neill's remarks came in response to an urgent question about the Drumcree dispute, raised by DUP assembly member Phillip Brett.
Brett urged O'Neill to "drop the bravado," accusing her of "utter contempt" for the ministerial pledge of office. He questioned whether she would "do the decent thing for once and resign as first minister" if found to have breached the ministerial code or the law.
O'Neill responded sharply, stating, "Catch yourself on, would be where I would start with that one." She reiterated her commitment to the people of Garvaghy Road, adding, "I'm proud to stand with them and I will continue to stand with them." She further declared, "I am the first minister of what is right."
Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) assembly member Timothy Gaston also criticized O'Neill, labeling her the "first minister of lawlessness." In a pointed remark, O'Neill referenced an AI-generated image posted online by a TUV councillor that purportedly exaggerated the size of a loyalist rally, stating, "we won't need to AI it."
DUP assembly member Jonathan Buckley inquired if O'Neill would "accept and abide by the lawful decision of the courts" when appeal court judges rule on the parade dispute. O'Neill asserted that "when the law is wrong I will stand firmly against it," describing the planned march as "morally wrong."
O'Neill also directed criticism at DUP members, stating, "shame on you" over the party's handling of the Drumcree dispute and asserting that their "party has championed this."
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Jon Burrows claimed that many people now considered the first minister "completely morally bankrupt." O'Neill flatly rejected this assertion.
Earlier, Stormont Speaker Edwin Poots expressed concern over O'Neill's absence from the assembly the previous week when the urgent question was tabled. He described her absence as "discourteous" to the assembly and the public, emphasizing the importance of ministerial accountability to the house and its constituents.